Links I Like

The Ethical Spectacle
NRA
Fascinating Video Lecture
International Journal
    of Occupational and
    Environmental Health
Students for Concealed
     Carry on Campus

Book Review:
“The Man Who Hated Work and Loved Labor — The Life and Times of Tony Mazzocchi” This is a fascinating book about a labor leader who has had tremendous influence on our lives, but whose name is not even known by millions of Americans. Please read my review.

From:  The American Rifleman  September, 2000

A 65-year-old newspaper delivery man was in his Oakland, Calif., garage preparing for his daily run when a 19-year-old armed ruffian suddenly came inside demanding money, according to police. The younger man apparently had not benefited from the positive influence of his father’s former position as an Oakland police officer and instead had chosen to make his living the “easy” way. His choice of victim was equally poor, however, because the elderly man was intent on self-defense. The resident, gun to his head, quickly found himself backed against a workbench, but managed to retrieve his revolver from under a stack of papers. His single, fatal shot sent the attacker staggering outside and prompted two accomplices to flee the scene. The delivery man later told authorities that he feared for his life and for those of his grandchildren who were sleeping inside the home. (The Oakland Tribune, Oakland, Calif., 5/8/00)

Five-foot-five-inch Lilly Fu was working in her family’s Queens, N.Y, cellular telephone store when, according to police, three men entered, announced a robbery and forced her into a back room. As they attempted to duct-tape Fu’s hands and feet, the feisty merchant fought back, stabbing at the men with a pen. When they stole Fu’s purse and attempted to flee, they were thwarted as Fu, now armed with a licensed gun, fired on them. A short time later, police found the getaway vehicle a few blocks away. One of Fu’s assailants was slumped over the steering wheel with a fatal gunshot wound to the neck. (Newsday, Melville, N.Y., 5/25/00)

Penny Smith started after her dogs when she heard them chasing what she assumed was a rabbit near her Shrewsbury, Vt., home. When the animal turned out to be a rabies-crazed coyote, though, Smith bolted for her truck and sounded the horn for her husband. Unfortunately, Greg Smith’s single shot missed its mark. The next day, a second attack sent Penny Smith running once again – this time into the house. When Greg Smith came to her rescue this time, he was passed at the front door first by his wife and then by the coyote. “[The animal] was right on her heels,” he said. “I never even saw it until it was going by me.” Penny Smith escaped out the back of the house, but the coyote turned on Greg Smith, who put down the 30-lb. animal with six shots from his handgun. “It was so sinister. The thing was cool as a cucumber. It had no fear,” said Smith. (Valley News, West Lebanon, N.H., 6/8/00)

A wheelchair-bound Vietnam War veteran was in his apartment early one morning when another man –  apparently drunk and jealous about a mutual female friend – charged toward the apartment screaming obscenities and ultimately forcing his way inside. Meanwhile, the resident armed himself with a 9 mm handgun. He was forced to use it only seconds later to defend his life as the home invader advanced toward him. The homeowner mortally wounded his attacker. A neighbor who witnessed the incident said of the invader, “This isn’t the first time he’s kicked the door in. I think he intended to really hurt [the resident] this time.” (The News-Review, Roseburg, Ore., 6/2/00)

No sooner had a couple arrived at their property in a remote area of West Virginia than they were attacked by a man vandalizing their camper and the surrounding area. When the husband and the intruder locked eyes, the latter advanced. Bent on mayhem, the vandal refused to heed warnings from the wife who finally was forced to fire a single, fatal shot from her semi-automatic handgun to halt the confrontation. (The Register-Herald, Beckley, W. Va., 6/8/00)

Media reports of a dangerous fugitive were still fresh in the mind of a Mount Pleasant, Tenn., resident when he went to check on his dogs, which had suddenly begun barking. The man’s worst fears were confirmed when he spotted a figure lurking nearby and recognized him as the person police were seeking. Fortunately, the property owner had first armed himself with a gun. “Basically, [the resident] subdued him until law enforcement arrived,” said Monroe County Sheriff Doug Watson. The suspect was being sought in connection with the abduction and rape of a 19-year-old woman the previous week. (News-Herald, Lenoir City, Tenn., 5/3/00)

In a near-deadly encounter that police concluded may have been a case of mistaken identity, two men with guns knocked on the door of a Minneapolis, Minn., house shortly before midnight and pushed aside the female resident who answered. Commanding her to “stay away,” the men made their way inside, but not before the woman shouted a warning to her male companion. He grabbed a rifle and fired on the pair, striking one man in the leg. Both men fled, but were later arrested by police. (Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Minn., 12/9/99)

A 79-year-old resident of Chicago’s south side was at home one night when someone broke a window and knocked in his door, according to police. The startled man mustered the presence of mind to retreat to his bedroom and arm himself with a .38-cal. handgun. When his 30-year-old assailant – whom he now could see was armed with a knife – advanced threateningly toward him, the resident issued a stern warning. The crazed attacker refused to yield, however, and was felled by a fatal shot. The Cook County state’s attorney rejected charges against the homeowner. (Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Ill., 3/2/00)

[ Backwards ] [ Home ] [ Up ] [ Forwards ]

Last Updated — June 20, 2008